Award controversy

For one reason or the other, the state film awards have always courted controversy. This year’s awards are no different, with murmurs of discontent heard right on the day of announcement of the winners last week. As the announcement was made at Pantha Nivas in the state capital, many wondered as to how Sanjeev Hota, a former bureaucrat, was made the chairman of the jury. Then a number of jury members, who sat in the front row of the hall instead of sharing the dais with tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda, as has been the usual practice, were found grumbling about the break from the tradition, which they obviously found humiliating. After the press conference was over, some of the jury members taunted the minister for trying to grab the limelight in this fashion. “He could have done this in a more honourable way,” quipped one of them.   

Back in favour

Former minister Surya Narayan Patro, who had been sulking ever since he was not included in the ministry, a deliberate decision on the part of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, seems to be back in favour. He was the man managing the show on behalf of the ruling BJD at the party-sponsored farmers’ convention at Sohela in Bargarh district on Thursday. He was the master of ceremonies and chief minister’s Man Friday rolled into one and his newfound status as Naveen’s confidant did not go unnoticed by his colleagues sitting on the dais as he barked orders. One wonders if this will ultimately result in a ministerial berth for the veteran from Ganjam.

Rejig rumours

The absence of three ministers — agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy, cooperation minister Damodar Rout and revenue minister Bijayshree Routray — at ruling BJD’s farmers’ convention at Sohela has triggered speculation about a possible ministry rejig by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The chief minister is said to be unhappy with Maharathy and Rout because of their tendency to shoot their mouths off while Routray has been under a cloud ever since a controversy over his Bhubaneswar house erupted. The snub has made these ministers wary, with Maharathy, who recently faced protest demonstrations during his tour to western and southern Odisha districts, reportedly not responding to calls from 
journalists.

High hopes

Political circles are abuzz with talks of a possible ministry reshuffle, and some of the younger BJD MLAs seem to have become hyperactive. The focus at the moment seems to be on Chandbali MLA and BJD students’ wing president Byomkesh Ray who had sought to impress chief minister Naveen Patnaik on his birthday by leading a huge contingent of students to his official residence Naveen Nivas. Though a mishap involving the students cast a shadow on the occasion, it has failed to dampen the spirits of Ray who is now busy making preparations for a students’ convention in Bhubaneswar on November 23 to be addressed by the chief minister. If BJD sources are to be believed, the young leader’s chances of finding a place in the ministry will hinge on the success of this event.

Rivalry in focus

The rivalry between former minister and senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya and his junior party colleague Rohit Pujari, the MLA from Rairakhol, is becoming increasingly evident. Sources said that Acharya, who lost the last Assembly election from Bijepur after shifting there from Rairakhol, is extremely wary of the growing influence of Pujari, a young gun who has made it to the good books of the chief minister through sheer hard work. There is speculation that Acharya is keen to move back to Rairakhol where BJD enjoys a strong base. Pujari, though, is equally determined to foil the designs of his senior colleague. This has created an atmosphere of distrust within the ruling party in the area.

FOOTNOTE

Second term

Will state BJP president K.V. Singh Deo get a second term or a new leader will occupy the coveted office? With the party’s organisational elections round the corner, the question has been doing the rounds. Though Singh Deo still enjoys the confidence of a sizeable section of party leaders, the possibility of him being challenged by a rival is not being ruled out. 

Sources said that challenge to the royal scion from Balangir may come from unexpected quarters as some senior leaders close to him have become extremely ambitious and may not hesitate to throw their hats into the ring at the eleventh hour.